We always seem to be looking for the next diet, the one that will melt off weight without making us obsess over food in the process. But we don’t need fad diets at all. The answer to weight loss is simple and unchanging. We need to add more fruits and vegetables to our diets, while cutting out (or at least cutting down on) processed convenience foods and sweets.
If we only focus on numbers on the scale, we’ll lose sight of what matters most to our overall health: making healthy food choices and making exercise a lifelong habit. But don’t be surprised if the weight does fall off when you adopt this mindset!
“Forget Dieting. Here’s What Really Works to Lose Weight,” Discover Magazine, discovermagazine.com, Jan. 11, 2023.
The health impacts of eating plastic are still unclear, but researchers have long suspected they’re not great. Growing evidence suggests high exposure to microplastics could provoke immune and stress responses, along with various reproductive, metabolic, and behavioral issues.
Microplastics and chemicals can build up in your leftovers over time—even when you’re storing those plastic containers in the fridge. But microwaving wet foods in plastic containers speeds up hydrolysis, the process by which water molecules can essentially break chemical bonds apart.
A team at the University of Nebraska found that within three minutes, some containers released as many as 4.22 million microplastics (particles smaller than 5 millimeters) and 2.11 billion nanoplastics (particles about 70 times smaller than the width of a human hair) per square centimeter of surface area. Once those microplastics are ingested, it’s possible they can degrade and leach harmful chemicals into the body.
“Definitely Do Not Put Plastic in the Microwave,” bon appétit, bonappetit.com, Sept. 16, 2023.
Consuming enough water may slow down the aging process, prevent chronic conditions, and even help you live longer.
Authors of a 2023 study determined this after analyzing people’s serum sodium levels. The levels of salt in your blood tend to increase when you are not as well hydrated. In the study—which looked at 15,752 people over 25 years—people with higher levels of serum sodium tended to age faster and have worse health outcomes.
Higher serum sodium levels were found to be related to a higher risk of the following conditions: dementia, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart failure, stroke, and atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm).
Of course, it matters how much salt we eat too. Almost any unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts are low in sodium. Most of the salt in our diets comes from commercially prepared foods.
“Health Benefits of Drinking Water,” health, health.com, June 22, 2023.
Numerous studies have found that both performing and listening to music can have a significant impact on the immune system. According to a 2019 study, music can induce relaxation, which alleviates stress and anxiety. This, in turn, boosts the immune system, which becomes depressed by ongoing stress.
According to a 2013 study, music influences levels of immune antigens and stress hormones. Immunoglobulin A, an antigen which plays a crucial role in immune functions, responds particularly well to music. Scientists say that music also reduces the stress hormone cortisol and may be as effective as diazepam in coping with anxiety symptoms.
Research has shown that singing or playing an instrument can produce an even more significant effect on the immune system than listening to music.
“ May 12, 2020. https://www.zmescience.com/science/does-listening-to-music-boost-your-immune-system/” ZME Science, zmescience.com, May 12, 2020.
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